N.D. Cent. Code § 10-15-08.1

10-15-08.1. Cooperative name

1. The cooperative name:

a. Must be expressed in letters or characters used in the English language as those

letters or characters appear in the American standard code for information

interchange (ASCII) table.

b. May contain the word "corporation" or "incorporated" or an abbreviation of either

of those words.

c. May not contain a word or phrase indicating or implying it is organized for a

purpose other than one or more business purposes for which a cooperative

association may be organized under this chapter.

d. Must be distinguishable in the records of the secretary of state from the name,

whether foreign and authorized to do business in this state, or domestic, unless

there is filed with the articles of association of a domestic cooperative or the

application for authority of a foreign cooperative, a record in compliance with

subsection 2 of:

(1) Another cooperative association;

(2) A corporation;

(3) A limited liability company;

(4) A limited liability partnership;

(5) A limited partnership;

(6) A limited liability limited partnership;

(7) A name the right to which is, at the time of organization, in some manner

reserved;

(8) A fictitious name registered with the secretary of state as provided in chapter

45-11;

(9) A trade name registered with the secretary of state as provided in chapter

47-25; or

(10) A trademark or service mark registered in the manner provided in chapter

47-22.

2. If the secretary of state determines a cooperative name is indistinguishable from

another name for purposes of this chapter, then the cooperative name may not be

used unless there is filed with the articles of association or application for authority:

a. A written consent to use the name obtained from the domestic or foreign

corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, limited liability

limited partnership, or limited partnership authorized to do business in this state

having an indistinguishable name, or the holder of a reserved name, registered

trade name, fictitious name, or trademark or service mark; or

b. A certified copy of a judgment of a court in this state establishing the prior right of

the applicant to the use of the name in this state.

3. The secretary of state shall determine whether a cooperative name is distinguishable

in the secretary of state's records from another name for purposes of this chapter and

may adopt rules reasonable or necessary for making these determinations.

4. This section and section 10-15-08.2 do not:

a. Abrogate or limit:

(1) The law of unfair competition or unfair practices;

(2) Chapter 47-25;

(3) The laws of the United States with respect to the right to acquire and protect

copyrights, trade names, trademarks, service names, and service marks; or

(4) Any other rights to the exclusive use of names or symbols; or

b. Derogate the common law or the principles of equity.

5. A cooperative that is involuntarily dissolved by the secretary of state under section

10-15-53.2 may reacquire the right to use that name by reinstating the cooperative

within the time provided in section 10-15-53.3 or by refiling articles of association,

unless the name has been adopted for use or reserved by another person, in which

case the filing must be rejected unless the filing is accompanied by a written consent

or judgment as provided in subsection 2. A cooperative that is unable to reacquire the

use of its name shall adopt a new name that complies with this section.

6. A cooperative that files its articles of association with an effective date later than the

date of filing as provided in section 10-15-07 shall maintain the right to the name until

the effective date.